Sewing is really just lots of direction-following + a working ability to think in 3-D. Ie, remember which armhole is the left one even when yr shirt is inside-out, see in your head how things are going together before you sew them. That is sometimes hard, I have definitely sewn the wrong things together based on inside-out-ness or similar confusion. And my mother once made a set of lace curtains with one somehow six inches shorter than the other, and she's been sewing all her life! Concentration is key.
― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 28 September 2006 13:54 (seventeen years ago) link
I have a purse pattern! I may be asking for y'alls' help. Interfacing is involved. I am frightened.
Thanks, Laurel! I think I just need more practice. Reading patterns confusing, esp. when you have no clue what they're talking about. I did have to run to the computer several times last night to figure out certain mystifying phrases such "basting." Do you usually do that by hand or just use a big stitch? I used a long stitch on my machine which is the same one I used to gather fabric. Perhaps that's why my shirt looks like crap.
― molly d (mollyd), Thursday, 28 September 2006 14:02 (seventeen years ago) link
Haha, XP!
― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 28 September 2006 14:05 (seventeen years ago) link
Exception: I use a long machine stitch if basting is to stabilize a curved edge, ie the edge of a neckline or the top of a skirt. That kind of basting is used wherever fabric has to hang on the bias, to keep the fibers from getting pulled out of square while you work on the pieces (too much handling can be hard on the grain).
Molly, do you have the pattern number for yr shirt? Am curious.
― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 28 September 2006 14:10 (seventeen years ago) link
http://www.1sewingpatterns.com/images0/4700bsim.jpg
They're about 3/4 length sleeves instead.
― molly d (mollyd), Thursday, 28 September 2006 14:31 (seventeen years ago) link
http://static.flickr.com/95/258172320_4f47355504.jpg?v=0
i will never wear it. it fits poorly and is a bit too hippy dippy. oh, and i did a really bad job too.
my sewing class was great! i even bought a new foot for my machine, so now i can do piping, sewing over pearls, and gathering very easily!
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 2 October 2006 03:16 (seventeen years ago) link
http://static.flickr.com/117/258172322_f0016e6a7d.jpg?v=0
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 2 October 2006 03:18 (seventeen years ago) link
can i have the handbag please? ;-)
― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Monday, 2 October 2006 04:53 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:35 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:38 (seventeen years ago) link
I love that foot! I decided to make a fancy pillow Saturday afternoon with gathering AND piping, abut quickly realized this cannot be done when you've already sewn piping on to the piece. Oh well.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:46 (seventeen years ago) link
http://www.simplicity.com/assets/4236/4236.jpg
and some plain, solid fabric. I'm thinking skirt should be easy for first try? It calls for twill tape on the back. What is that?
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link
Piping is fun, though! I'll have a pretty boring pillow when I'm finished!
My sewing class is pretty awesome. It's full of a bunch of old Southern ladies, who are all really sweet. It's out in Madison, TN, which is a suburb outside of Nashville. I sat across from a lady wearing a red "Camp Fallujah Iraq" baseball hat. She kept getting confused, poor thing.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:54 (seventeen years ago) link
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:55 (seventeen years ago) link
Twill tape is a flat, ribbon-like tape in a kind of herringbone weave. I think it's mostly used for strengthening pressure points? I've never used it. What does the pattern say to do with it?
http://www.ribbonsgalore.com.au/shop/images/RIB.15.TWI.BLU.jpg
Oh god, last time I tried anything with silk it was QUEL DISASTER! Right now I need three yards of wine-red baby-wale corduroy but I'm too lazy/disorganized to get over to the fashion district and buy it.
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 2 October 2006 15:55 (seventeen years ago) link
Yeah, we bring our own sewing machines to class. Everybody had really fancy ones with computers and such. I felt like I had a Kia, and everyone else had Mercedes, but then when they were all getting confused on the programming, my inferiority complex was lifted.
Ooh! Laurel! What are you making with that corduroy? I am a total sucker for that color in cordoroy.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 2 October 2006 16:00 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 2 October 2006 16:03 (seventeen years ago) link
I"m still trying to knit up xmas stuff, why aren't there more hours in the day??
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Monday, 2 October 2006 16:06 (seventeen years ago) link
Sam, I still have to finish the plastic bag knit purse for my sister's birthday... which was last month. Way to go, pokey! I made one i-cord already, but I've been sewing too much to actually want to sit down and knit.
I have too many hobbies. Oh well.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 2 October 2006 16:11 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Sunday, 8 October 2006 01:09 (seventeen years ago) link
― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Monday, 9 October 2006 12:28 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 9 October 2006 12:36 (seventeen years ago) link
The zipper is in the center back.
Here's the pattern:
http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/butterick/shop.cgi?s.item.B4710=x&TI='B4710'&page=1
I don't intend on putting ribbon on it. I just want to make a sensible, easy skirt.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 9 October 2006 13:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 9 October 2006 13:15 (seventeen years ago) link
Oh! There's a seemingly simple vintage apron pattern in BUST, which involves using an old sheet.
I would just to make something that I don't fuck up, so I can feel accomplished.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 9 October 2006 13:26 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 9 October 2006 13:46 (seventeen years ago) link
I have a gift certificate to this nice fabric store near my house. Any suggestions as to what I should buy that's essential for sewing? I did get a cardboard cutting board, and I already have pins, magnetic pin holder, measuring tape, and a pair of okay cutting scissors.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 9 October 2006 14:30 (seventeen years ago) link
Other sewing tools that I use all the time:
* seam ripper* small thread snips (like scissors but without the finger holes so they're a little bit easier to pick up in a hurry; I use them for all my hand mending and for cutting free after sewing machine seams)* small tailor's ham for pressing seams and anything curved* a packet of good handsewing needles (called "sharps")* tailor's chalk for removeable marking on the right sides of things (good for marking those pesky dart points and etc that have to be transferred from the patterns; maybe get one light colored chalk and one dark one; rub marks out with a damp rag when you're done)* a basic thimble, nothing fancy (you'll want it when you're handsewing through lots of layers or anything denim or whatev)* a good metal yardstick for marking and cutting bias strips or any straight lines.* sewing gauge (like a a 6-inch ruler but with a little sliding marker, VERY useful for maintaining equidistant seam allowances, hems, buttonholes)
That might seem like a lot but each item should only be a dollar or two (tho the ham could be more). I have a bunch of other stuff, a bamboo point turner and little gadgets for folding bias tapes and chalk tracing paper, plus I think some of my stuff would turn out better if I learned to use a dressmaker's/French curve, but I think you could get by for a long time (forever?) with just what you have plus my list.
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 9 October 2006 14:55 (seventeen years ago) link
Here's where I have the gift certificate:
http://www.textilefabricstore.com/
Sadly, the "This I Believe" bit on NPR this morning was all about how failure is a good thing. I thought of my sewing endeavors.
I really do have to make sure to study the pattern before I do anything. I am like an excitable little kid who wants to bust right into it.
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 9 October 2006 15:08 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 9 October 2006 15:12 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 9 October 2006 16:12 (seventeen years ago) link
I'm really hard at work today. I just found this website:
http://www.fitzpatterns.com/index.html
Free skirt patterns! That wrap skirt is pretty cute. I could do that. I'm really tempted to just leave work early today, as I'm completely unproductive, and have a desire to go fabric and notions shopping instead. There's a top in there too that looks fairly easy.
Oh, and I'll give the excuse for leaving early that the new cat needs attention, as last night she decided to curl up on youknowwho, and then pee all over his shirt. Hah! (I shouldn't be laughing, but I can't help it).
― molly d (mollyd), Monday, 9 October 2006 16:19 (seventeen years ago) link
Oh, and I went to the fabric store yesterday and became overwhelmed which led to my purchase-less departure. I overheard a woman discussing how she has sewn some of Dolly Parton's clothes (she was looking at the fake fur section), and I decided I need to come back when I'm feeling a bit more confident. How sad! Attack of low sewing-self esteem!
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 14:39 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 14:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 14:46 (seventeen years ago) link
― . . .and a soda on the side (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link
That wrap skirt though... I may be coming into a stash of old cordoroy, so perhaps I will attempt that.
I feel much better after having created something successfully. I was Suzie Downer for a while (also fueled by raging, emotional PMS, which made me sob at random TV shows, including, but not limited to: Extreme Makeover : Home Edition"),
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 14:53 (seventeen years ago) link
I have a very, very good wrap pattern that's easy and I've made it twice and you could embellish or add pockets or change the closure to anything you wanted (it's supposed to be long skinny ties but I've also made it with a D-ring buckle).
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 15:01 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 15:11 (seventeen years ago) link
the show is scientifically engineered to make you cry. it's evil really.
― . . .and a soda on the side (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 15:11 (seventeen years ago) link
Oh! And you're totally right, Laurel: pressing seams makes a world of difference. I felt competent yesterday while making my sad little apron!
Sidenote: everyone of my family members is getting an apron for Xmas.
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 15:18 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 15:19 (seventeen years ago) link
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link
Regular ham:http://www.bblackandsons.com/store/media/product-images/pressing_supplies/PS-04.jpg
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 15:35 (seventeen years ago) link
I think, after I complete my apron, I will try something non-threatening like a tote-bag. I think I may try this:
http://www.supereggplant.com/archives/000216.html
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link
― . . .and a soda on the side (Molly Jones), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 17:14 (seventeen years ago) link
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 17:18 (seventeen years ago) link
I've also read that, if you want a skirt hem to float REALLY nicely for a special occasion, you can iron it out section by section on the ham rather than flat on the ironing board...it will give it just a little more rounding and body. Of course it's also more work.
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 17:20 (seventeen years ago) link
http://static.flickr.com/101/271857434_a8edf1035b.jpg?v=0
― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 00:57 (seventeen years ago) link
I want to start quilting again this spring. I moved my sewing machine out of my room when I started teaching remotely, because I needed the space to make a home office. So now it's on the third floor, which is an okay workspace but very cold. Once it warms up, I've got a bunch of quilts I'm somewhere in the middle of - one that just needs its border quilted and a binding, one that's just a quilt top with no border, and one that's halfway through the patchwork stage. My goal for this spring is to finish at least one of them, so I'm posting this here in hopes that I can hold myself to that.
― Lily Dale, Friday, 26 February 2021 01:03 (three years ago) link
maybe crosspost to knitting thread but i just got a year craftsy premium subscription for $2.49. just need to set a reminder to cancel it before they autobill me a year from now. ime the classes are pretty good. i did a knitting one several years ago and i became a way better knitter.
― superdeep borehole (harbl), Wednesday, 21 April 2021 20:45 (two years ago) link
I got obsessed w knitting in college when I didn't actually know how to knit but thought I would learn, so I have a few books with socks and sweater patterns in them. I could send them to an interested party!
― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Wednesday, 21 April 2021 20:48 (two years ago) link
i would but i'm on an embargo from obtaining books and things in general so you will just have to learn to knit :)
― superdeep borehole (harbl), Wednesday, 21 April 2021 21:15 (two years ago) link